Military helicopters suffer more than £700million of damage because of BIRD collisions

BIRDS colliding with military helicopters were responsible for two deaths and more than £700million of damage last year.

Findings from this research are being used by the US Department of Defence to increase the awareness of this issue, mitigate the problem, and increase the safety of pilots and aircrews.

Dr Brian Washburn

Research has show that rotary wing aircraft such as Apache and Chinook helicopters, can be seriously damaged by collisions with birds and other wildlife.

The helicopters are used by the army and are famed for their firepower and manoeuvrability.

However research published in the Wildlife Society Bulletin found that the global aviation industry lost an estimated £728million ($1.2billion) last year because collisions with wildlife.

Researchers used records from US army, navy air force and coast guard aircraft to work out how frequently wildlife strikes took place.

Dr Brian Washburn, from the National Wildlife Research Centre in Ohio said: "This study is part of the first formal evaluation of the impact of wildlife-rotary wing aircraft collisions to be conducted.

"Findings from this research are being used by the US Department of Defence to increase the awareness of this issue, mitigate the problem, and increase the safety of pilots and aircrews."

Sea gulls account for nearly 20 per cent of all collisions [GETTY]

The findings showed 2,511 incidents took place across the US, with Florida, New Mexico and Georgia seeing the highest numbers.

Collisions with birds accounted for 91 per cent of all incidents.

Warblers made up 16.8 per cent of collisions, bats consisted of 11.5 per cent, and perching birds 12 per cent.

Whereas gulls (18.2 per cent), seabirds (18.2 per cent) and shorebirds (13.4 per cent), raptors and vultures (12.6 per cent) were more often hit by naval aircraft.

Late autumn and early winter were found to be the most common time for these incidents, as 41.6 per cent of them happened between September and November.

Each strike cost the military between £7,292 and £201,863 and as well as the two deaths, caused eight injuries.